The late W.G. McCarron of Athens, in an
article entitled "Big Families of McMinn County", published in the Athenian on September 19, 1912 gives a brief history of the Cantrell family of this area:

"...John Cantrell, who was Heugenot
orgin, was the founder in this country of the Cantrell family, and ancestor of the Cantrells
of McMinn County, was said to have had 21 sons and two daughters--17 sons by his first wife and four sons and two daughters by his second wife. His son Thomas Cantrell had ten children, and the example
set by his father has been followed closely to the present time.

A story is handed down in the Cantrell family that the father of
this army of boys went into a new country store of the neighborhood and the proprietor of which was a stranger and asked to see some boys hats. The storekeeper politely handed down a dozen hats in
a box from which his new customer might make a selection, and laying the dozen hats to one side said he would like another box full.'Well!'said the surprised merchant, 'How many hats do you want?'
WhereuponMr. Cantrell stepped to the door where his family was waiting in wagons and said: 'Boys, come in here!' In marched 21 boys and lining up by the counter, the surprised merchant said, 'Are these
boys allyours?' When assured they were, he replied, 'Well, you can
beat me in being clever, so I'll just give you 21 hats.' This
he did, each boy made his selection and marched out.

There were probably no newspapers
in which a merchant couldadvertise in that neighborhood, but this merchant made a hit that put him on his feet thereafter.

Six of John Cantrell's 21 sons later
served in the Rev. War."

Note: In checking with my Cantrell-Newman Genealogy book I find a
JohnCantrell3 who had 21 sons by two different wives. However, this
John never reached McMinn Co. He was born in New Castle Co Pa (now Delaware)in 1724. Died 1803. Migrated to Rockingham Co NC before the Rev
warand to Spartanburg Co, SC where he owned over 800 acres.."
He was thefather of Thomas Cantrell4 of Cantrell's Cross Roads.

This John3 (1724) was of Joseph2 (c.1695) of Richard1 (c.1600's,
the earliest Cantrell, Cantrill on record at present.)

John3 had 21 sons of which the McMinn Co TN line comes from # 12
son THOMAS CANTRELL4, b. Jan 23, 1761, d. Sept. 23, 1830 and is buried
inwhat we call the Thomas Cantrell Cemetery. This is one of the oldestdated tombstones in the county. It was on his land, then called Cantrell's Cross Roads, later called Williamsburg, and Grady and now West Etowah. The Taylor Mansion today was his home.

(See the touching story of Thomas' daughter, Mary Cantrell Cook,
in her move to our stark county in the early 1820's. See WILLIAM HENRY
COOKE.)

Thomas had 10 children of which # 5, Elijah5 and # 8, David5, are McMinn's Cantrell descendents.

First ELIJAH: He had 9 children, the direct descendent is the first born, THOMAS CANTRELL6, b. JUNE 22, 1819 in DeKalb CO TN. Migrated to McMinn with his parents as a small boy. He married Louisa Lawson, dau of Lewis Lawson of near Athens. Moved to Missouri in 1850 but returned and lived in Bradley CO during the Civil War; later returned to DeKalb CO where he died in 1885. Was a member of the Meth. Episc. Church and was highly respected in the localities where he lived.

The direct descendent is from # 2 son, ELIJAH WILSON CANTRELL7, b. Jan. 6, 1848. Married Bettie Jane Moore Sept.3, 1873. She was born Sept 5, 1855. This Elijah had large fruit interests (grafting) in the Piney Grove Community. They were Methodists. Elijah had 14children.

CONTINUING WITH ELIJAH WILSON'S BROTHER DAVID CANTRELL: Son ofThomas Cantrell4, of John3, of Joseph2, of Richard1.DAVID CANTRELL5 was born July 20, 1795, in Greenville District,
SC. Went with his parents to McMinn CO TN and settled upon the waters
ofChestuee Creek. He married (1) Alice Reynolds, dau of Isham
Reynolds,of Hawkins CO TN, Feb. 25, 1823. She was born Mar. 10, 1797 and
diedFeb. 28, 1849, leaving (9) nine children. Married (2) Rebecca WilburnCrockett, Oct. 19, 1851. Three children. He died Feb. 19,
1859, andwas buried in a private plot on what was once a portion of his farm.